Some translation data cannot currently be updated via the language pack mechanism. Because these items require more disruptive integration work, they are subject to an earlier deadline. Translations which fall into this category are:

• The Ubuntu installer (debian-installer in Rosetta)
• Translations which don't use gettext, including:

  • debconf templates

  • desktop notifications via notification-daemon

  • Package description translations. Please by default translate in Debian to avoid duplication of work, and only fill in the missing pieces in Ubuntu's DDTP.

• Translations included in the source packages
  • yelp (Ubuntu Help Center front page)

  • gnome-user-docs with translation for the Ubuntu-specific "Assistive Tools" string from Rosetta (9.04)

  • xdg-users-dirs

  • wubi

  • gfxboot-theme-ubuntu
  • language-selector

  • iso-codes: Please translate upstream (http://pkg-isocodes.alioth.debian.org/), we will only sync from Debian and won't use the translations from Launchpad directly!

• Ubuntu documentation (ubuntu-docs, kubuntu-docs, xubuntu-docs, edubuntu-docs)
• (Other documentation, coming from upstream projects, not in Rosetta)
• Strings visible in the default desktop (live CDs don't get language pack updates)
  • Default menu items
  • Panel strings

• What should we do about translations that are taken from xml files, for example: .policy files? These translations are merged into xml at build time, so they should be exported from Launchpad, then the package has to be rebuilt. It is currently not known, exactly which packages are affected, or how, when and who should make sure that translations reach the packages in time. Also see this mail.

Rebuilding packages

There are some packages that need to be rebuild at NonLanguagePackTranslationDeadline with freshly exported translations. The reasons are various: some packages need to not use language packs, but contain the translations themselves, so that the installation process will be localized. Others contain some highly visible strings, that are coming from xml files (.policy mainly), which are populated with translations at package build time. Some packages contain only such strings. These are listed here.

TODO: Adding items from the above list that also apply. Should be the various -docs here? Do the UTC team want to help maintainers with exporting tarballs and adding them here? TODO: Stop exporting templates of type install and xml to langpacks. TODO: What's up with themes and wallpapers?

Packages that should contain translations themselves are listed here

To find packages with policy files in them: $ for i in ls /usr/share/polkit-1/actions/; do dpkg -S $i; done